Progression Updates - LIVE NOW! - Changes to rewards and leveling
Hey Everyone,
So as you may have noticed some progression updates have hit the live game. So we can get out the word on how these changes will affect all players, the detailed information about the changes are below:
As always with anything in Stage 2 please let us know what you think of this new feature so we can keep expanding on the system in the future! This is currently live so make sure you hop into a game and you’ll see a new update on your profile showing the new progression system.
We wanted to move forward with this change since we’ve been getting feedback all over our community about how progression feels in Stage 2 and wanted to make the first changes to the system based on the feedback we’ve seen from our players.
Remember you need to play in a match before seeing the updated level system!
Thanks Everyone and enjoy!
Hotfix Build 2.01.1 is LIVE! - Lobby Full+Matchmaking fixes
Thanks to the continued support of the community, we've been able to pinpoint and fix three commonly reported issues to our matchmaking in Hotfix 2.01.1. The build is now live so be sure to update to the latest version of Evolve Stage 2!
Hotfix Notes
<*>Fix for the lobby full message occurring and the player getting backed when trying to play with friends and solo matchmaking.
<*>Fix for the 5 players getting stuck in the pre-round and the player found full lobby but not proceeding forward into character select.
<*>Fix for getting stuck at a Black Screen in the post round that required the player to alt-F4 and close the application.
Thanks to your help, we fixed the Shader Issue and Update 2.01 is going LIVE!
Due to the support from all over the community responding with DXDIAG's and further information to our Dev team we were able to find a solution to the Shader issue and are pushing update 2.01 live right now.
View the full notes here: http://steamcommunity.com/games/273350/announcements/detail/615122756455181964
Thank you so much for your support, and enjoy patch 2.01.
-TRS
We are reverting 2.01 patch due to the Shader Issue - 2.001 being pushed back to live
Due to widespread reports of the Shader issue we're going to revert the build to 2.001
Once we figure out a timeline for a Shader fix we'll push out 2.01, hang tight everyone and thank you!
Edit From TRS: Once we have more information we will let you all know. Thanks for understanding!
The Stage 2 Tune Up Week 1 - Update 2.01 - This is now LIVE!
All Founders will receive an additional 27,000 Silver Keys when this update launches
Silver Key Updates
UI Updates
Store Content Updates
Balance Updates
Monsters
All ability values are setup as: (Stage 3 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 values)
Hunters
Perks
Wildlife
Bug Fixes
Hotfix 2.001 build is live - Character Select Issue FIXED!
Hey everyone!
The Character select bug where you'd select a Monster or Hunter and it would switch over to a Free Rotation Hunter or Monster once you load into a game is now fixed. This will require a client update, so you will need to log out of Evolve: Stage 2 to download the update, the size is about ~151mb!
Go forth and update!
Double Bounty Weekend!
Jump on Shear & rack up those Silver Keys!
From now until Monday @ 10AM PST -- Double Silver Keys for all!
Introducing Evolve Stage 2 – FREE on PC Today
Evolve is staging up. Click here to read a letter from the co-founders of Turtle Rock Studios about why Evolve is changing.
Starting today you can play Evolve completely FREE on PC via Steam. Introducing, Evolve Stage 2!
Why is Evolve changing and what does this mean for new and existing players? If you haven’t already read the letter from Chris Ashton and Phil Robb, co-founders of Turtle Rock Studios, you should do that now, as it explains what we’ve been up to since the game first launched in February, 2015 and what our motivations are for creating Evolve Stage 2.
Evolve has been completely overhauled on PC with new game design, gameplay mechanics, and improved gameplay balance and system performance. All of the content in Evolve, including all the content released following its launch, is unlockable in Evolve Stage 2 completely free simply by playing the game.
If you bought Evolve – THANK YOU! Seriously, from the bottom of our hearts, your loyalty and support is what fueled us to continue expanding and improving the game since launch. It was paramount to us with Evolve Stage 2 that if you own or buy a copy of original Evolve on PC, your game will automatically upgrade to Evolve Stage 2 and you will receive “FOUNDER STATUS” in-game. Founders get a ton of bonuses, not least of which is the carry over of all of the content they already own with them to Stage 2, making it immediately accessible to use in the new version of the game. For complete details about everything Founders receive, check out this post.
THE CHANGES
4v1 – four hunters vs. one monster – is still core to any Evolve match, but much of the hunter, monster, map and mode design has changed, resulting in a vastly improved experience. In other words, Evolve Stage 2 is a whole new beast! Here’s a quick list of some of the more important changes to the game. For the full 18-page change list, checkout the full patch notes here.
REFINED MODES:
HUNT Mode is the focus of the Evolve Stage 2 experience at launch;
SPECTATOR Mode can be used by streamers and shoutcasters to broadcast matches.
The MOBILE ARENA is now a shared ability that always centers on the Monster, and all four hunter classes have been redesigned to be more easily accessible and have better team synergy even when you’re not playing with friends.
TRAPPER – With the mobile arena a shared ability, all Trapper class hunters now come equipped with a PLANET SCANNER ability that tells the hunters generally which direction the monster is located within the map. Trappers also get a speed boost when activating the ability to help them close the distance and Dome the Monster.
MEDIC – All Hunter classes now have passive health regeneration that automatically heals players when they aren’t taking damage.
SUPPORT – All Support class hunters now have a SHIELD BURST ability that automatically charges the shields of teammates that are close enough to the Support.
ASSAULT – All Assault class hunters now have a DEFENSE MATRIX ability that replaces the personal shield’s invulnerability and instead provides damage reduction to the Assault character.
MONSTER – All Monsters now have more health and start with enough skill points to activate all four abilities at the start of a match. Alongside new found power and speed, the Monsters are back to terrorize Shear.
VISUAL FX and UI have been redesigned to provide a cleaner, more easily understandable experience for players of all skill levels.
MAPS have been redesigned specifically for HUNT using countless hours of gameplay data and player feedback since launch, resulting in maps that create consistently fair fights for Hunters and Monsters.
THE CONTENT
When Evolve Stage 2 goes live later today (between 9AM-12PM PT), it will be a BETA version of the game. The game will likely remain in BETA for a while as we test all of the new content, changes, and server infrastructure in a live environment. But even in its BETA state, we think the Shear content available (pun intended) in Evolve Stage 2 is massive! Here’s a list of everything that’s available in the game at launch today, with characters, cosmetics and perks unlockable completely free using in-game currency earned simply by playing the game.
MODES:
Hunt
Ranked
Customs
Arena
Spectator
24 HUNTERS:
Assaults:
Markov
Blitz Markov
Hyde
Parnell
Torvald
Lennox
Trappers:
Maggie
Wasteland Maggie
Griffin
Abe
Crow
Jack
Medics:
Val
Rogue Val
Lazarus
Caira
Slim
E.M.E.T.
Supports:
Hank
Tech Sgt. Hank
Bucket
Cabot
Sunny
Kala
7 MONSTERS:
Goliath
Meteor Goliath
Kraken
Elder Kraken
Wraith
Behemoth
Gorgon
Four Redesigned and Rebuilt MAPS:
Orbital Drill
Wraith Trap
Distillery
Weather Control
NEW PERK SYSTEM
27 New Monster Perks
32 New Hunter Perks
COSMETICS:
9 Hunter Skins
48 Hunter Weapon Skins
9 Monster Skins
And more to come with our weekly updates!
Evolve was a magical, heart-pounding, pick-up-and-play experience unlike any other in video games. Today, we hope to recapture that magic with Evolve Stage 2, and we hope you’ll join us. If you already own Evolve on PC, your game will update to Stage 2 around 9AM PT today, and if you don’t, you can download the game and PLAY FOR FREE later today on Steam: Evolve Stage 2 on Steam.
Despite all the information above, you no doubt still have a lot of questions. If you’d like to provide feedback on Evolve Stage 2, we encourage you to do that in the official Turtle Rock forums.
HAPPY HUNTING AND SEE YOU ON SHEAR!
Founders Status in Evolve Stage 2
With the launch of Evolve Stage 2 as a Free title on Steam, we did not want to forget the players who believed in Turtle Rock Studios from the very beginning and supported Evolve when we first launched back in February 2015. When returning Steam players login to Evolve Stage 2 for the first time, they will be granted ‘Founders Status’. This includes a number of bonus items and continued exclusive unlocks as we continue to update Evolve Stage 2. Below is a breakdown of what it means to be a Founder in Evolve Stage 2.
What is a Founder?
Any player who previously owned Evolve on Steam or bought any DLC content such as skins or characters will have all paid content carry over into Evolve Stage 2. Not only do you get all your old content, Founders will get exclusive badges, skins and other cosmetic items as we continue to update Evolve Stage 2 in the weeks to come.
What do Founders get on Launch Day?
All content currently available for Founders is detailed below:
3,000 Silver Keys, all past and future Adaptations for previously owned Hunters and Monsters, dozens of Weapon Skins, and four unique, animated Founder badges.
If you owned any Hunters, Monsters, or Skins previously, those will be carried over to Evolve Stage 2.
Future Founder Content
As a further show of our appreciation to our Founders, we’ll continue to add new Founder exclusive cosmetic items and Adaptations that our Founders will get as soon as they launch.
Thanks again for being a supporter of Evolve, we can’t wait to see you back on Shear.
For more information about Evolve Stage 2, please also check out:
The Evolve Stage 2 beta releases today, free on Steam. This is more than just an update; we overhauled almost every system and achieved our goal of converting Evolve into a free game. We’ve added and updated numerous features, fixed tons of bugs, improved stability and performance across the board, and completely redesigned many aspects of the game. These notes are just a sample of the features that the Turtle Rock Studios team has been working hard on and is proud to share with you today. Read the full notes here.
Without further ado, let's dive into Evolve Stage 2!
NEW AND UPDATED FEATURES
In-Game Currency and New Content
Everything in the Evolve Stage 2 beta can be unlocked by simply playing the game.
Weekly Free Character Rotation
Each week features four Hunters and one Monster available to play for free. We switch the characters up every week, so be on the lookout on social media and our forums!
If you’re new to Evolve Stage 2, you’ll always have at least four Hunters and one Monster to play. You’ll also unlock two additional characters by completing the Markov and Goliath tutorials!
In-Game Currency: Silver Keys
Earn Silver Keys by playing matches, completing Challenges, signing in every day, and levelling up your account and character progression.
Use Silver Keys to unlock Hunters, Monsters, Skins, and Perks. These can be unlocked through the in-game store or the pre-round screens.
Silver Keys are tied to your profile, and cannot be transferred to another player.
Hunter Skins
There are plenty of new ways to express yourself with new Hunter skins ranging from a crazy Chemtrooper wearing pink spandex to a blood-soaked robot.
You can equip separate Weapon Skins and Hunter skin simultaneously.
Returning Players
Any player who owned a copy of Evolve previously is now granted Founder status.
What is a Founder?
We created the Founder Status to thank those players who supported us before Evolve Staged up.
Through the post-launch support of Evolve Stage 2, Founders will receive special in-game items, currency, and other benefits for believing in Evolve and Turtle Rock Studios.
What do I get as a Founder?
3,000 Silver Keys, all past and future Adaptations for previously owned Hunters and Monsters, dozens of Weapon Skins, and four unique, animated Founder badges.
If you owned any Hunters, Monsters, or Skins previously, those will be carried over to Evolve Stage 2.
What about Non-Founders?
When you download Evolve Stage 2 for the first time you start fresh
Updated Tutorials
The tutorial experience for Evolve Stage 2 is now smoother, shorter, and more focused on getting players the information they need before going out into the wild for their first Hunt.
Tutorial Rewards
Completing both the Hunter and Monster tutorials will unlock Markov and Goliath for your account.
If you already own both characters, you’ll receive a large sum of Silver Keys for completing the tutorials.
Progression System Overhaul
Account Progression
We've introduced account level progression; everyone will start out at level 1.
The max level for account progression is level 30: on the way, you’ll unlock unique badges and Silver Keys rewards.
Character Progression
Each Character (Hunters/Monsters) has a unique level progression tied to the character.
There are 40 levels per character: progressing through the character levels will unlock Silver Keys, badges, and perks.
Masteries Removed
The Monthly Punch Card
Rewards for Regular Play
Each reward is tied to the number of sign-ins, not to any specific day of the month.
Every day you log in to Evolve, you’ll receive the reward for the correlating day on the Punch Card. You’ll want to log in every day to make sure you get all the rewards for the month!
Punch Card Rewards
Rewards include Silver Keys, Badges, Hunter Skins, Monster Skins, and could even be a Hunter, Monster, or an Adaptation!
For example our first month will include the latest Hunter if you reach enough logins over the month.
If you have already unlocked a Punch Card reward, you will be granted a percentage of the current store value in Silver Keys as compensation.
Challenges
Along with progression and the Punch Card, there are daily and periodic challenges that reward additional Silver Keys upon completion.
Completing Challenges
You can only complete these challenges in Hunt and Ranked matches, unless the description states otherwise.
You cannot complete Challenges in solo or custom games. However, custom games in Training provide a limited pool of Silver Keys and XP every day.
Pick 3 Perk System
We have redesigned the way perks are used in Evolve to allow players to better customize their gameplay experience. As such, all Perk unlocks have been reset due to the creation of a new progression and Perk system.
Perk Categories
Perks are divided into three categories: Minor, Major, and Superior. Each category relates to its impact on gameplay.
In each category you may select one Perk that is available at the current time.
Unlocking Perks
Perks unlock with Silver Keys on the Perk select screen or through the character progression system.
Upgrading Perks
Each Perk has three levels, and Perks are level one when first unlocked. It can then be upgraded to level two and level three using Silver Keys or by unlocking additional levels through character progression.
UI Flow
Navigating through the Evolve Stage 2 UI is now faster, more intuitive, and a more enjoyable user experience.
Overhauled Menu Structure
Streamlined our menu flow so you can get into games faster than ever.
Reduced to Single Loading Screen
Updated Visual and Audio Language
We created more breathable, open, and inviting menus with updated effects and audio to match.
More Accessible Options Menu
You can now adjust all your options before loading into a match, including your audio settings!
Pre-Round
Character, Perks, and Skins are all selected before ever hitting a loading screen.
Added win-streaks to the Versus screen. It’s extra-satisfying to break someone’s win-streak, it turns out!
Post-Round Summary
Updated to support all-new challenges, rewards, and progression.
Profile System Revamp
From the Profile, players can navigate to the new Character grid, the rebuilt badge system, and more.
Profile Widget
You now have an at-a-glance view of your account level, Silver Keys amount, and badge using the profile widget located in the upper right corner throughout the front-end. Click on it to access the Profile from any screen!
Account/Character Progression
Your profile page displays account level, statistics, and unlocked items.
On the character page, you can view your character-specific stats, progression, and upcoming unlocks.
Character Grid
You can view all of your characters at a glance and easily see which ones you own, which are locked, and which are on rotation.
Revised the Badge System
Badge color unlocks are now tied to account and character progression.
Badge colors can be awarded through the Punch Card, community events, and other avenues.
Please note that due to the change in the badge system, all badge unlocks have been reset.
Performance Overhaul
Alongside our Main Menu refactor, we cut down load times and improved performance and stability across all of Evolve.
Performance Improvements
Reduced the download size by more than 50%!
This download only includes your Steam-specified language. To download additional languages, you’ll need to set it to your desired language via Steam.
Created a new “Minimum” video setting for lower-end PCs.
Performance improvements across all graphic specs (Medium/High/Very High).
Decreased the number of loading screens required to get into a match.
Optimized and redesigned numerous VFX to improve in-game performance and readability.
Focus on Stability
Thanks to our ability to update weekly, we are able to fix any game-breaking bugs or crashes quicker than ever before.
GAMEPLAY FEATURES AND UPDATES
Gameplay is one of the most important aspects of Evolve Stage 2. Games are faster than ever; they require less running and give all players a sense of direction during gameplay. We redesigned Hunt to eliminate the “Flee ‘Til 3” tactics and put the focus back on the action.
Hunter Shared Dome
The Mobile Arena is moved off the Trapper and is now a team-wide ability for Hunters. The Shared Dome is a critical part of the Evolve Stage 2 Hunt experience.
What is the Shared Dome?
If a Hunter damages the Monster or is within a certain range, a prompt will appear to Dome the Monster.
After a short cast time, the Dome will be deployed over the Monster's current location.
The Dome cooldown is 80 seconds which is shared across all Hunters.
Shared Dome Gameplay
The Dome Timer starts at 5 minutes.
The timer can be decreased in two ways:
If the Monster incaps a Hunter, the timer decreases by 3.5 minutes (210 seconds).
If the Hunters deal health damage to the Monster, the timer is reduced in 60 second increments.
Stage 1: -60 seconds for every 4% of health lost
Stage 2: -60 seconds for every 6.5% of health lost
Stage 3: -60 seconds for every 8.5% of health lost
Once the timer decreases to 0:00, the Dome will drop.
A loud buzzer sound is triggered as the Dome counts down before dropping.
Hold the Dome Countermeasures
‘Hold the Dome' was an infamous and toxic mechanic from Evolve. With Evolve Stage 2, we've modified our dome design to counteract this behavior.
If a Hunter gets incapped while the Dome is ready to cast, a 10 second delay will be applied to the Shared Dome.
A HUD prompt will appear when this countermeasure is in effect.
New Hunter Class Abilities
Trapper: Planet Scanner
Upon activation, the Planet Scanner detects the direction the Monster is in, and relays that information on each Hunter’s compass. The Monster will also get a UI prompt whenever the ability is activated.
Not only do Trappers get this advanced tracking ability, they will get a movement speed and jetpack thrust boost for a short time to keep on the Monster’s tracks.
This ability currently has a 30 second cooldown.
Support: Shield Burst
The Shield Burst will apply a temporary shield to all Hunters in a 30m radius and blocks a chunk of incoming damage on activation.
Assault: Defense Matrix
Upon activation, the Defense Matrix will create a defensive energy around the Assault, blocking 75% percentage of incoming damage for the Assault Hunter for a short period of time. It currently has a 30 second cooldown.
